Bonedust

made a soft sound in his throat.
    Gabriel laid there, his muscles twitching in the aftermath of pleasure. He twined a leg around Urban’s and pressed his forehead into the snake’s shoulder, breathing in his scent as he willed his heart to slow down. Nerves slithered in his stomach. This was what he wanted —he wanted it, and he’d want it again and again for as long as they were together. His fingers trailed through Urban’s dark hair and it burst forwards like a flood gate letting loose: “I love you.” He paused, and softer, said, “I know that’s insane and we haven’t even been together that long, but…I know it’s true. I love you, Urban.”
    Urban made a soft sound behind him and Gabriel gazed up into the man’s face. His eyes were closed in sleep, peace settling over his face, making him look like a beautiful, scaled angel. Gabriel smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to Urban’s forehead. “I love you,” he murmured, then settled in, his own eyes fluttering closed.

Chapter Fourteen

    It all came down to this: Gabriel loved him.
    Urban’s heart thumped erratically as he lay beside his sleeping lover, trying to take it all in. Gabriel loved him. His words played back on a loop in Urban’s mind, driving him nearly mad. Suddenly restless, he untangled himself from Gabriel and cleaned up, making sure not to wake him. Dressing, he roused Pandora and opened the door, stepping out into the icy air. It chilled across his arms and he blew out a long breath. It released in a puff of white air.
    Goddess, he wasn’t a smoker, but a cigarette sounded amazing right now. He pressed his eyes shut and just focused on breathing. In. Out. In. Out. Pandora barked, shattering the silence and he hissed at her to shut up. She barked again, then took off into the surrounding forest. Urban groaned and jogged after her, his body still tense. Maybe a run was just what he needed.
    His feet pounded against the ground, striking the earth with solid thumps. He kept his arms at his sides, pumping as he stretched out and ran. Pandora yipped joyfully and bolted ahead, her tail wagging, a white beacon in the night.
    He ran until his lungs burned, and only then did he double back for the motel. Slowing down, he whistled for Pandora. She padded up beside him, her shoulder bumping his knee. He paused, stumbling. Panic seized his chest as he realized he’d just left Gabriel alone in the middle of the night.
    “Shit.” He took off at a dead bolt, tearing across the crunchy snow and praying to Halcion that Gabriel was alright. “Goddess, I’m a fucking idiot!” he snarled, swinging the unlocked door open, his heart hammering. Please, Halcion, please…
    Gabriel lay curled on the bed, twisted in sheets as he slept. Urban felt a whoosh of air leave his chest and he stood in the doorway, paralyzed. Thank you. He shrugged off his jacket and shoes and locked the door behind him. Pandora flopped to the ground after a drink from the toilet, her sides heaving with pants. Urban slid in behind Gabriel, though his stomach was knotted. Sleep. He just needed sleep. He’d deal with his stupid emotions in the morning.
    He didn’t get the chance. As he settled in and relaxed, his muscles still warm and lax from the run, the call in his ear chimed twice. “Shit.” Then: “Winters.”
    “So it seems we meet again, hunter.” The voice in his ear was roughened, gravelly, and Urban pinned it—the Alpha werewolf from Dublith. Shit. What did he do to deserve this, tonight of all nights?
    “Yeah?”
    “I have a job. Of course, I’m not going to pay you for it, but we have an…issue.”
    “Oh?”
    “The wolf you killed. Her mate has gone on a psychotic break. He’s injured two of my wolves, and has killed a handful of humans. All women.”
    “Why not call the Suits, then?”
    “They’re on it, but he’s being…tricky. I assume he’ll come out for revenge if he sees you, my friend. Seeing as you killed his mate. And wolves mate for life.” Micah Tanner’s voice was amused. “And if you die, I suppose no one’s really out anything. I just figured you’d be the man to call, since you owe us.”
    Urban fisted the sheets and fought back a probably-pissy retort. “And I suppose you need it done now?”
    “Unless you want the body count to rise, I’d advise you come to Dublith, ASAP. Bring your little boy-toy with you if you have to. I don’t give a damn. Just get your scaly ass over here.” He rumbled a softly dark laugh.